Over the past few years there has been a growing movement of toleration
that has crept into mainstream America. This movement allows and promotes
differing views from all areas of society. An individualís views and their
rights are two very different things. At some point in our countryís recent
history these two have become mingled together, their meanings twisted. The
fact stands that all men are created equal and should be treated as such.
All have certain rights afforded us by our Constitution and Bill of Rights
which were formed by God fearing men, most cherish these rights and freedoms
our forefathers fought and died for, yet there are those who seek to remove
from our midst what our forefathers used as a foundation to build this
nation upon. These great men knew that a nation could not stand unless God
was with it. And for God to remain with it and bless it, the nation had to
follow God, just like His chosen, Israel, had to. We, as a people, must
realize and understand when our nation strays from Godís will and actively
seek to return there. But at every turn satan is there, hindering us.

This movement of toleration has formed itself on a self-protecting
foundation, under a very clever disguise. It has infiltrated the business
world we work in and the media we watch. Anyone that speaks out against it
is attacked from every angle and labled as intolerant of others and their
views, irregardless of how wrong they are. The idea is: What you believe is
what you believe and what I believe is what I believe, and I donít have a
right to put my beliefs on you and you donít have a right to put your
beliefs on me. While in theory this sounds good, it is very wrong. Look how
it protects itself. It takes an individualís views and opinions and turns
them into rights and truths and then uses them against you, saying, "Well,
thatís your opinion and you know how opinions go." There becomes no truth,
no right and wrong. It is based on everyoneís opinion of what the truth is.
It just amazes me to sit and watch people argue about the truth. What both
of them believe is right, Even though one person is clearly wrong. What does
the prophet say?, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who
substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter
for sweet and sweet for bitter," Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20.

There is only right and wrong. There is only good and evil. There is only
black and white. There is no gray. If you have to justify what you are
doing, it is wrong. This diversity as it is called seeks to have everyone
get along with everyone in the hopes that no one gets offended. It says,
"Donít say or do anything that offends anyone, donít step on their toes.
They have as much right to live as you do!" In the guise of being gender
specific and politically correct, media and television push this philosophy
onto us without a care whether it is right or wrong. "Whatís so wrong with
not offending anyone?" If someone does something wrong and you tell them
itís wrong, youíve suddenly offended them. And, "You canít do that!" Well,
why? Because that upsets satan! Where did satan come into this? If you do
wrong, something that God says not to, thatís evil and of satan. Thatís
where satan comes in. He wants you to not care what you do and that blurrs
the lines between right and wrong. The less obvious the line separating good
and evil, the more satan likes it, and over time the line fades more and
more until it canít be seen. Which is now. We live in this time of not being
able to distinguish good and evil.

In this particular aspect, media, TV, and gay rights advocates, promote
homosexuality as an acceptable "lifestyle" pushing it on Americans as
something we should get used to because they are like that and are here to
stay. Sin is still sin no matter how much make-up you put on it. God said in
Genesis 1:27-28, "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God
He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and
God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth..." It is
impossible for two men or two women to "Be fruitful and multiply." God
created them male and female, not male and male or female and female.
Leviticus 18:22 states, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a
female; it is an abomination." Also in Leviticus, chapter 20 verse 13, "If
there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of
them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death..."
In Romans 1:18-32 Paul states that Godís wrath is revealed against all
ungodliness, and describes how God gave them over to their degrading
passions and a depraved mind those who committed such acts. Iíve heard many
times "God made me this way." God does not create something and then call it
an abomination. In 1st Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do no be deceived; neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor theives, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers,
shall inherit the kingdom of God." Homosexuality is sin and the Bible
condemns it. It is not a sexual preference or lifestyle. To God, it is no
different than someone being a thief or murderer. This truth steps all over
peopleís toes. It offends them. And the world doesnít like that.

Business is prodded into following these ideas, in fear of lawsuits, bad
press and in turn lower sales. This causes companies to develop diversity
policies and ethics regulations for their employees to follow in an attempt
to not offend anyone and avoid situations for lawsuits. And it seems there
is a drive for companies to be the most "diverse"out there. All this for
fear of offending someone. All this for not defending what is right, and
telling these people they are the ones who are wrong.

The moral foundation of a nation is itsí families. When families start
falling apart, the nation as a whole is not far behind. When parents do not
acknowledge God as the creator, do not fear what He can do and has done and
do not teach their children to fear Him and to keep His commandments, the
decline of personal accountability and responsibility for actions spurs the
rise of moral and criminal offenses which cause the problems our nation
faces.

By not revering Godís commandments, keeping them and observing them, ties
directly to the home, the parents. Parents must hold to and are responsible
for teaching the ideals by which this nation was founded. Furthermore, the
society who does not keep and promote Godís commandments, will suffer His
wrath. All those who seek to harm Godís cause must be drug into the light.
When Godís truth shines on the darkness it will flee. Recently there has
been great furvor relating to the Ten Commandments being displayed in public
and governmental buildings, for fear you might offend someone who does not
believe in them. Or it is cried, "This violates the separation of church and
state." Our forefathers knew that it was because of Godís favor that a
nation stood or fell, and that fact is made evident in our Declaration of
Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. When a nation falls out of
the grace of God, trouble and strife follow. We must learn from history.
Rome, the greatest empire that ever existed, fell. Babylon also, even Godís
own children, Israel fell into great suffering time and time again because
of their sin against God. The only distinction among Rome, Babylon and
America is that we are a nation founded upon God and His principles, like
Israel. They worshipped idol gods and would not keep His commandments, and
He punished them for it. But if we too, like Israel, fall away from God into
disobedience, we will suffer the same fate as Israel. An existence of war
and suffering with no hope of peace. "A God of peace and love wouldnít do
that!" The world cries. Oh yes, He most certainly would, you donít know the
Bible. He is a jealous God, full of wrath towards His enemies. The Romans
didnít believe in Jehovah God, but It didnít matter what they believed. They
didnít think that an almighty God was going to deliver judgement upon them,
but He did. And today, people live with no fear of God and think they wonít
be called into judgement for their actions, but they will. As one, of many
examples, read Jeremiah chapters 46-51, then come back and tell me God
doesnít punish those nations that sin against Him.

A group in this movement that actively opposes and hinders prayer in our
schools and the placement of the Ten Commandments in our courthouses and
places where justice is served is the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties
Union. They cry, "separation of church and state." And "you might offend or
exclude someone that doesnít believe in them, and this is their government
to." God says that if you do not keep His commandments, you are not of Him,
you are of the devil. It doesnít matter who you are. Just because you donít
believe in something doesnít mean it doesnít exist. God is higher than the
ACLU. They and their lawyers actively hinder Godís cause by standing in His
way, by not helping advance His cause. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12
verse 30, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather
with Me scatters." If you stand in the way of Christ or hinder His cause you
are an enemy of God. We must call the ACLU what it is: An active instrument
of satan. The systematic draining of God from our society and pervasive
tolerance and blatant promotion of sin is spawning the social problems we
are facing. We must return to God.

We are witnessing a growing toleration of witchcraft and sorcery. Movies
and books that portray sorcerers and witches as children. To the world this
seems innocent enough, but as christians we must not let it go on. These
represent evil in itsí purest form. "Oh come on, itís just a movie," or
"Itís only a book. Whatís wrong with that?" God considers pornography and
x-rated movies sin, theyíre just books and movies. To God they are both sin.
Just because man places more emphasis on one than the other, doesnít mean
God does. In the Old Testament King Saul sought after a medium to conjure
the prophet Samuel, and he died because of it. 1st Chronicles chapter 10
verses 13-14, "So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the
Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also
because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not
inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to
David the son of Jesse." The punishment laid out for mediums and spiritists
was death, by stoning, Leviticus chapter 20 verse 27. I believe many do not
know that the Bible condemns witchcraft, like many other offenses to God.
This comes from a lack of reading and teaching the things of God. Late night
TV is littered with ads for psychics, tarot card readers and fortune
tellers. People need to be made aware that these are evil and when you
meddle in these you meddle in satanís lair.

Recently some churches have taken a stand and have condemned the
widespread acceptance of witchcraft, others have held book burnings. To the
world these seem to be religous extremists, but this view should not be. As
long as we, as christians, will not speak out against these sins and
withhold what the movie studios and advertisers understand the most, money,
they will continue producing movies, books, toys, etc. And do you really
blame them? They should care, but they donít. If they have a product that
people will buy, theyíre going to sell it. It is the people that must turn
away from the product, and by nature screenwriters and bookwriters and toy
companies will search for products that the consumer will buy. They donít
care what they produce, just as long as it sells. If a product doesnít sell,
they wonít make it.

These are only a few of the many problems that plague us as a people.
Problems that only God can fix, and only if we return to Him. For He
promises, "...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and
pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land," 2nd
Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.

These words give comfort. God only can heal our nations troubles. No
amount of money or programs will work unless God is behind them. We must
support our leaders in public offices, encourage them, and most importantly,
pray for them. Our landís healing depends solely on our obedience to God.
Return to Him and May God bless these United States.

A Tribute to Sister Beulah Berry

by Deacon Jeff Moran

Indianapolis, Indiana

As we pass through this world, we meet hundreds of people. A very special
few of those encounters end up making a lasting impression on our lives.
These people might be school teachers, coaches or folks at the church we
attend. This article is about a special lady who touched many a young person
who passed through her Sunday School class at Grace Missionary Baptist
Church in Detroit, MI, one of which was me.

When our family moved to Michigan in 1968, Dad began to pastor Grace
Church. One of the deacons at Grace was Brother Otis Berry. His lovely wife
was Sister Beulah, and she taught the Primary Sunday School class. First it
was a small class in the cool damp basement of the church; later, as the
class grew, it met upstairs in a bigger room.

I still remember some of the assignments Sister Beulah gave to us. One
was to count how many times the word "love" appeared in the New Testament. I
have long forgotten what that count was, but what has stuck with me is a
deep appreciation for the love that God showed to mankind in sending His
Son. Looking back, I have a feeling that it was THAT message she was hoping
we would take away, not the actual number the word appeared in the text.

Another lesson was a simple song that contained the names of the 12
Apostles. Sung each Sunday, it became engrained in my memory. Now, nearly 40
years later, we have taught this song to the young people who attend our
Vacation Bible School at the church I attend, Bethel Missionary Baptist, in
Indianapolis. So her lessons are living on years after she taught them.

Aside from the Biblical lessons, Sister Beulah taught us love and
compassion. She and Brother Berry, who has now gone home to be with the
Lord, had a beautiful home in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, and they loved
to invite young people over to eat and have fellowship. They had a beautiful
garden in the backyard with lots of wildlife that they had befriended,
including squirrels that would come to the window to get peanut butter
covered biscuits.

Today, home for Sister Beulah is a single room at a nursing home in
Glasgow, KY. Her eyesight is gone and her mind is fading, but when I visited
her last, she still had that wonderfully sweet, gracious and loving spirit
about her that I remembered. I took the opportunity then to tell her what
she had meant to me and that her lessons were living on. Iím so glad I did.

Dear reader Ė if you have a "Sister Beulah" in your life, wonít you call,
write or visit that person today and let them know what they mean to you?
Life is so short and uncertain. Let us present our roses while they can be
appreciated.

Thank you, Sister Beulah, for the life you have lived and the lives you
have touched.